So, what the heck is "The Alhambra"?

It's amazing that I can know so much Dead music, and still find gems like this that I didn't know existed: five stars just for the history and uniqueness.

This show appears to be the only one in which the boys played the more than typical live thing we call "Terrapin Station".

On the studio album, the song is called "Terrapin Station Part 1". I have a CD from the 80's that gives the timing of the individual parts of this piece. What they played in other concerts was almost always the first *three* parts — 'Lady with a Fan', 'Terrapin Station', and 'Terrapin'.

What they played in this concert, and which is labeled here 'Alhambra' is a barely recognizable 'Terrapin Transit', followed by 'At a Siding' up to just before where the lyrics start on the album. Then, what is labeled as 'Drums' includes a jam at the start which is the beginning of 'Terrapin Flyer' on the studio album.

you guys are way high if you think jerry says 'penis' in fire. really??? great 3 night run. wish i was there but i was 11 years old outside of boston, mass. classic '77 awesomeness!

...BUT it only sounds like "penis"....he did not say or wish to say "penis"...it is not GARCIA'S STYLE to mumble sexual words.........show is as good as 5/8/77 or better ,,probably better as this is the first time they played SCARLET......

Well I'm breaking one of my fore most rules, that is: I rarely review shows I wasn't actually at. However I was at the Swing 1977-2-26(Sat) and there most definitely not did they play 'Scarlet Begonias' > 'Fire on the Mountain'! Therefore this again most definitely was indeed the debut of 'Fire on the Mountain' live as we know it i.e. not counting as it was previously known 'Happiness is drumming'. Which as such, was performed by Mickey's Diga Rhythm Band which for those who don't know included Garcia & Zakir Hussain on tabla!
Now as far as "penis" controversy I'm undecided? I never noticed it before reading your comments but I must admit; whatever he is singing it isn't normal! I would refer you'll to the sometimes known as the "Rap" version in the studio version with Mickey Hart singing or rapping all of Hunter's lyrics with Steve Miller playing guitar! It might have been released on one of the collection albums like "So Many Roads" or another I'm not sure about that?
Despite that silliness, I'm certainly in agreement with those such as Arukamon & doug_the_dude and some others as well, who really know what they're talking about; yet it's not about our egos, it's about truth! Yes these versions of 1/2 Step, Sugaree are quite nice but I hate to say are not the best I've the best (indeed the one at the afore mentioned Swing is pretty good or Ventura '83 but my faqvorite is -1979-12-28(Fri) which has many totally mind blowing tune renditions) as well as that of 'Fernario' etc.. or even one of my Bob favorites 'It's All over Now' was much better in October '78 when I taped for my first time at Winterland! On the other hand indeed, 'Not Fade Away' is pretty darn hot yet even that I can think of several that are even more outrageous like U.C.S.B. my freshman year 1978-6-4(Sun) with the Hell's Angel's motorcycle for one is pretty rousing! However 'St. Stephen' here is indeed one of my favorite's although the only one I saw (therefore a tad biased) at U.C.L.A. the night before Winterland's closing has a unique jam where Garcia goes through the scale on the jam the opposite way he normally does! But here 'Around & Around' is totally out there!
In any case for the instrumental At a Siding part of Terrapin Station this show still deserves a 5 To bad I couldn't have gone!
Augy,
San Diego

I don't know if this jam should be called Alhambra but the name works. Both the Dead and the Alhambra were 'built to last,' they have a long, winding history and offer a journey into a magical world with gardens of delight. The Alhambra's rhythmic arabesques are the Dead's jams, early Alhambra/70s Dead is lighter and jazzier, later Alhambra/Dead is heavier. They inspire! They rock!

It was only my second show - first in Winterland. Still one of the best (& I kept going for 28 more years). I'm so happy to get to hear it again!

Tough, this one - the good is so freaking great, but there are several things amiss - lots of botched lyrics, a choppy board in general, so you'll have to sift out the best of (if any of that bothers you, that is).

Set 1 - Start with All Over Now. The use of aud for entire tracks sometimes is a bit jarring - here the aud is light years from the quality of the show before, 2/27, so...and Half-Step is thoroughly mangled, so, again, if you get your deadhead undies in a bunch over this try 2/27's late-first set go at this ol' border epic.

But the rest of the set is dynamite beauty: Sugaree and Peggy-O are two peas in a golden pod, the first Svarlet > Fire matchup shaking itself into our universe with, again, quite creative attempts at remembering lyrics (and I don't know about that "penis" line, guys...)

Set 2 - wanders for a while, and Ship is again one of those full auds, so take it or leave it. Estimated is total robot cool, and This Terrapin is definitely a standard, one unique in its extended jam - I really wish they had tried the Transit > Siding portion more than just once - there are all kinds of acrobatics waiting to happen there!

Not Fade Away occupies the latter portion of the show - wow, just listen to Jer and Donna vocally as they wind it down - it just goes on and on! A&A's double-time finale is *seriously* rockin' here, too. The UJB encore? Lyrically all over the map - you're not missing much here.

So, a bit up-and-down, this one, but certainly not one you want to miss.

This Not Fade Away is more than amazing. If only the recording didnt cut out during literally the highest peak ever played for a nfa jam. Jerry AND Bobby during the solo sends chills up my spine when i listen to this. 1977 was definitely the peak for the dead and this show further more shows that they had perfected this song and were just having fun (and possibly in space since it was Winterland).


Sugaree is also more than worth the listen. It can pretty much speak for yourself why the dead was the greatest live band to ever play.


This would be a sick Daves Picks.

Move me brightly. From the Promised Land to Uncle John's Band a wonderful trip on the Terrapin Train. A 5 star show for a 10 star year.

This was one of my first shows...the who/dead being my first show in 76 and then Cow Palace New Years 76-77. This being my 3rd show. This show was incredible, beginning to end. This recording of it is spectacular save a couple of spots. Thanks for the recording, I've been looking for the "full" Terrapin for years! People just gaping at each other after the show. Thanks for bringing back such wonderful memories.

Yeah, start listening to Fire at 4:15, he says "penis" all right. Classic.

A little tackier, but no less amazing is the show (76 in Portland maybe?) where a guy can be heard saying he'd like to F* Donna Godchaux while standing near the audience mic.

Jerry's doing some fantastic story-telling on that solo. His playing is so defined and deliberate. Fantastic----thanks !

Scarlet Begonias-> Fire On The Mountain

great sound:)

I was at these three shows.
This was one of the best of the 400 + shows that I attended.
Simply delicious!

Enough said about the performance and recording quality--awesome! For collectors, I highly recommend replacing the Scarlet > Fire on this version with the Tuning > Scarlet > Fire on the S. Clugston mix. Though the patch is AUD, it seamlessly restores the missing 30 sec from this historic occasion (at ~5:07 in Fire). Since there aren't public uploads, I'm happy to share my patched files with someone who can.

gratefuldiver11@gmail.com

...__[8]o

I had arrived in SF the day before on a Greyhound bus from NYC with my bicycle in a box. I had a phone number of some friends living in the Haight. They were having a drought and it rained for the 1st time in ages, I was welcomed as GOOD LUCK. The next evening the phone rang and we were on our way to Winterland. What a blast. My 1st Terrapin, Estimated, Peggy O, Scarlet>Fire. Being my 1st west-coast show I was amazed that I could walk right up to the edge of the stage and gawk with no hassles. You could climb up on the side of the stage and watch through a thin wire mesh literally 20Ft from Garcia.

We went all 3 nights the tickets just came to us. What fun. A day after the 3rd show I got my bike together and rode down the west coast and got a bus back east. My next show Cornell...

I can't help it if i'm lucky.

After comparing over the past 4 months, and with 36 years following the band, I must say the Sugaree, Peggy-O, and FOTM from this concert are my personal faves. The unique rendition of Terrapin is in the top five as well.

Somehow, the band was just in perfect form for this show, delivering with the powerful gentility that makes the Grateful Dead so unique among all bands. Phil's performance the entire night, but especially on Fire and Sugaree is simply extraordinary. Why was Phil so focused and more active than usual that night? We will likely never know, but his usual playing "lead" bass about 50% of the time was around 90% of the time on Mar 18th, 1977.

Personally, I think that Phil's outstanding work during this show was the catylist that got the whole band "hitting at 120%", and added that little extra something that makes the songs from this show so highly rated by so many.

No Dead collection can be complete without this show!

Stay in touch!

Folks this as good as they say it is. The concert starts of a little rough sounding with the patch at the start of promised land but improves quickly. The other aud patches sound good and there isn't many of them.

well most of 77 we can see that. It is true about the penis line, a little muffled but clear enough. fantastic show, and a historical Terrapin. The rest is outstanding 77 material. Gotta have them all, collect all season while supplies last.....

For anybody who's wondering about the track listing for the Terrapin suite, this article goes very in depth to explain it all. The part about the uniqueness of this 3/18/77 version is about 3/4 down the page. It's also just a fun read overall, enjoy.

http://www.whitegum.com/aaroness.htm

What a joy it is to come upon a gem like this for the first time (after 25 years of listening). I always assumed that the 77 treasures were all in May. After being introduced to the two February show that kicked the year off (and if you haven't yet heard them then you must do so immedietly) I discovered this Winterland stand, and in particular this show.

I have listened to this over two evenings and there are noteworthy versions of so many different songs. So as not to just repeat what has already been stated, I will try to point out some of the distinctive moments that help to make this such a breathtaking show. The band, individually and as a unit, is ablaze the entire show. Note the way they repeatedly move from playing LOUD to playing ultra quiet within the same song. Jerry experiments with new approaches in virtually every song. Half step sounds totally new and different. Nothing is rushed. Towards the end of Sugaree the band enters a wild Jam as Keith takes his solo. Check out the Drums/Piano/Bass interaction that occurs. Extraordinary. Minglewood is unrestrained garage band rock and roll.
The stretch of songs in the second set, beginning with Terrapin and continuing through the Uncle John's encore is bedazzling. This is a band with many faces and many moods. Not Fade Away is the center piece in many ways. If you like Cornell then give this a listen as a worthy counterpoint. They move through different chapters, from the way back groove that starts the song to the Caution jam that climaxes with a Viola Lee like crescendo, to the beautifully quiet ending that reveals the 1st notes of Stephen like a sunrise on the beach! This is a deeply moving contribution to the universe. Jerry is so amped during Around that I had to turn the volume down. I can picture the mayhem that must have been the floor of Winterland as they drop it into over drive at the end. This show easily takes its place alongside the other storied shows from 1977 and any other year for that matter!

this show packs a punch, the only post terrapin jam, a must hear.

contact me at fieldhouse11277@hotmail.com happy to share with good listeners

'Tis pure heavenly design.
20 out of 5 stars.
And i can personally attest.
The band was ready to play.

Blazing all the way through.
Pete Townshend just standing there.
His jaw to the floor
"Ooooh, I gotta get this sound"

And there I was
Crying tears as drops of blood
Slain in the spirit
After the second.

A reawakening
Late in winter's
Perpetual spring
So carried away

THIS IS LIKELY THE BEST VERSION OF SUGAREE I HAVE EVER HEARD AND I AM A HUGE FAN OF THIS SONG. PHIL MAKES IT FOR ME...WHEN PHIL IS ON THE BAND IS FOR REAL!!!

Three distinct, magnificent sections of awe-inspiring improvisation. Garcia sounds so precise and deliberate throughout. I am in complete awe of this version. Beyond the pale.

Some of you are fools cuz you can still get these shows and put them on disc and play them anywere or put them on your MP3 player

it was probably labeled this because terrapin station had not yet came out when this show was played and the track names might not have been final.

The grateful dead lyric and song finder says the following:


"L'Alhambra "
Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Mickey Hart

Hunter's "Box Of Rain" says these lyrics were "written to a Moorish setting composed by Mickey Hart that eventually evolved into a worldless melodic segment of Terrapin Station." That segment may be the swooping Jerry Garcia guitar line which forms part of "At A Siding" on the Terrapin Station CD (starting at 09.20). But this is not confirmed.

If for nothing else this show deserves a five because of its complete and total individuality. It is the first and only time "at a siding" is played live, though instrumentally only. The section mistakenly labeled as alhambra is really the boys first and only experiment into playing the full part 1 of terrapin suite. the go into terrapin transit, then at a siding. They attempt to play terrapin flyer but after 30 seconds or so of strugging with the complicated drum, guitar switches required, let it go into drums. The first and only time this is attempted live, and gives us a good indication of what it might have sounded like without the studio operatics. Gotta love the effort on this one.

I wish I would have downloaded these shows when I had the chance a few years ago. I blame Weir & Mickey. Anyway, kick ass show, the sound is great (except 1st song). In my opinion the highlights are definitely 1/2 Step, Sugaree, Peggy O, & the Scarlet/Fire. Show is solid throughout. Sugaree is a definite contender although I still love the Dicks Picks 3 version the best. Great 1/2 step, but compared to the 5/8/77 Boston version everything else is second best. Now for Jerry's PENIS ADLIB, that is the funniest thing I've ever heard from a Dead show. Dangerbird, ya gotta listen closer.
P.S. whoever is responsible for taking away the ability to rip these soundboards deserves to go deaf.

Yes. Best Sugaree I've heard in my admittedly small experience, it's a really interesting version. Keith is on for most of the show, and particularly on Sugaree. Not to mention Billy and Phil (Phil especially at the end of the track). And although I dispute the flub on Fire, it still smokes.

I just listened and the one guy who wrote about theJerry lryic flub is correct.....!!!!!and to add to the fact like he stated not one other person comments about it???????....great show

I never saw Jerry perform... that said I can say that Jerry ranks at the top for guitar players in my heart of hearts. Its hard for me to think anything before the 90's has any but fantastic guitar playing (even if its hard to make out). I try and look at some other aspects of the show as a basis for comparison. The vocals on this show are clear and melodious. I like Donna...sue me!:)...and here she is really great. No wailing to hurt the ears and she really puts some musical muscle into the vibe. The NFA isn't the best cult version... but I agree that around the Caution riff something quite good is going on in Jerry's head. Its one of the more diverse jam outs I have heard and the harmony interplay really highlights the younger voices working the mics.

I would go listen to 6-28-76 if you haven't already. Its a good appetizer for this rich course

Definitely one of the best, if not the best, Sugaree ever. Plus great versions of Halfstep, PeggyO, and Terrapin Station. And very good sound quality (mostly).

I can't agree with JamMnM below. Jerry's guitar comes out rich and full -- just listen to Fire on the Mountain. The sound quality is outstanding. And, as L. Rosley says, Sugaree is one of the standouts. A great '77 show.

This show is killer and I would love to have it on my ipod for listening "offline".....so how do you download these shows that have streaming only??

Thanks!

-A Grateful Listner

of all the reviews i am surprised to see that noone mantions the legendary lyric blunder..somewhere around the second verse of fire, jeryy mumbles then comes out with the obsurd lyric...."baby is beggin for the penis once more"...this is a great show..a classic as are most winterland shows but the penis once more?....legendary

I was brought into this world at 5:52 AM the morning of this show. 31 years later and this show is a rager, the best Half-Step ever in my opinion, the way my life has gone is almost uncanny....I definitely had the mark, couldn't be denied.... I wish I could give it a 5 but there is a few minor recording problems this one is REAL close to a 5 in my book!!! Def. a must have....I mean come on, its 77!!!

The boys are tap dancing on the edge this night, all playing in the same head. There are a couple of problems with the tape (like the audience patches mentioned in a couple of place).

Trolling the comments, I don't see anyone commenting on the most obvious patch of all: The opening track. You can here the splice where the tune-up for Half Step starts.

And that leads to my only real beef: WTF is up with the markers on this set? The most egregious is the Terrapin > Alhambra > Drums > NFA. It should be: Terrapin > NFA. One could make a _weak_ argument that _part_ of drums should keep that tag (close inspection shows that it's really a couple of NFA false starts).

Arcane DeadHead Bitching Aside(tm), this is an outstanding show, an easy pick for the moderate fan to go to... A whole nutha level.

This is a good show. I was at first not all that impressed with the recording after listening the first handful of songs. But then I compared Scarlet Begonias to about 5 other concerts in 1977 (ones I consider very good or excellent recordings) and this show is right up there. At A Siding (not The Alhambra!) is a highlight. Fire on the Mountain is very good, but I must say that the Cornell show is better. They are not just there yet in terms of all being on the same page. Worthy download.

Yowza, I've finally gotten around to filling a major hole in my collection with the addition of these wonderful soundboards from the march '77 Winterland run.
Prior to the downloads, I only had GD Hour chunks to listen to. Boy, have I been missing some great music.
There's much to enjoy over the course of 3 nights. Obviously, the new material at the time gets the most attention. It's great to hear Terrapin in it's infancy.
There's some sound issues here and there on all these recordings but for pure historical consideration, I'll give each show a solid 5. 1977 is highly fabled and for good reason.

Sound Quality: A

I really enjoyed this show, it was solid all the way through, and fantastic at some points throughout. Excellent Mississippi 1/2 Step, Sugaree, Peggy-O, Brown-Eyed Woman & St. Stephen. Definitely one of the better shows for the amazing year of 1977.

Even if you've heard Sugaree a million times (and you probably have), listen to this one, with the intricate guitar work midway.

The Terrapin is notable for the extra portion, which is not called "Alhambra" but is actually called "At a Siding" on the studio album, but played here without words. It's also good Terrapin.

The Not Fade Away starts out with nice bounce similar to efforts of a few previous years, but with the addition of '77 guitar style. It then builds into something else, with Phil doing a brief Caution riff a la 1969. (An unfortunate patch here, but we're lucky that section isn't missing altogether.) It then falls back into the bouncy groove with nice vocal harmonies, sliding into a mellow, 1976-style St. Stephen. Beautious.

The raves of some of the other highlight in the previous reviews are spot-on as well.

clearly the reviewer below only listened to the first track (an AUD patch) and felt obliged to share a contrary opinion. this recording is a typically great '77 soundboard, and the show is hot. rippin 1/2 step despite flubbed lyrics, an awesome peggy-o, great first scarlet->fire combo, blistering nfa.

this source has a missing section from fire (around 30 secs) which has fortunately been patched with the AUD tape. (see http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=13323 to get it from bt.etree and email me gcsadoti(at)yahoo(dot)com if it's dead). i have still yet to hear a complete sbd/aud compilation of nfa - it appears that there isn't a complete overlap between any sources (if someone knows of other sources, let me know). there is also a sbd source (likely from David Gans) with 'doctored' versions of both fire and nfa, which may be preferable to those who can't deal with the aud patches.

5 star for audio quality? jerry's tone is fat and rich? how can you possibly hear? this recording is horrible... it's a shame, cause the show sounds great..

Check out "Not Fade Away" at 3:40-4:13. Are they quoting "Baby We've Got A Date"?

This is a 4.5 show! But what stands out is Jerry's tone in the arena this night. Somehow it is so f-ing fat and rich. Probably more than I've ever heard it. His solo both before and after the "Across the Rio Grandio" part on Half-Step is spine chilling...tone is amazing!

IMO, the sound quality here is better than any other Winterland show after the 10/74 run. 4.5 stars for show...5 stars for sound quality...rounds up to a 5 overall.

I just got to say that the NFA and the Fire was just what I was looking from these boys so thanks brothers and sisiters for this show. And also the half-step is bretty damn good even though they mess up but they make it up for there superb vocals and jams on the song.What a year for the boys

Tnis is not the best Sugaree that honor falls on 10/16/77 LSU - The undisputed heavyweight champ (lightly reviewed too strangely enough) some other shows New Haven and St Paul in particular although Hartford gets a shoutout as well. MWood A+, Keith sizzles on Cassidy - face it this whole thing sizzles.

Scarlet>fire has Phil on the fretless bass which is so sweet. Terrapin has the one and only ending the way they do it on the album right before Jerry goes into that fast Passenger like jam. Alhambra I do not think is correctly listed - This is played in '74 and sounds nothing like this, the spanish jam with the repititous scale. NFA craps out soundwise right at the peak of one of the best finales I have ever heard - it soars at 20.5 mins.

Sound defects drop this a point.

if you can get past some of the audience patches this well worth the download. one of the best scarlet>fire>samsons I've ever heard.

It's great to have a SBD of this fine show, but the patching done to NFA misses the mark. Somewhere I have the edited(Gans)version from an old DH Hour, which is easier to listen to, but my old beat-up audience tape(can't find)is still my favorite. There is no other NFA that compares, for sheer unbridled insanity. Almost like "Saber Dance" or something. Definately get this show, but be forwarned regarding the sloppy edit. 4 stars.

If there is anyone out there that could either provide the full fire or provide even an aud patch of the cut in fire...PLEASE put it on. This fire is so badass...wish i could hear more - but you still get a good feel for the song back to the front for the first time.
Yes.

I will be dumbfounded to find a better Sugaree anywhere at anytime, I actually teared up the first time I heard it, absolutely unconscious. Download this show for Sugaree alone. This show is up there with any May show for sure. Guaranteed not to disappoint!!!

I've spent 14 years dreaming of a cd quality version of sugaree from this show. I love it so much that I've got at least 3 tapes with it copied on, lest one should break. Back in the day getting shows was abit of a chore. This archive is a candy store and I'm a little kid with a sweet tooth. The sound here is soooo good. Sugaree is IMHO the best ever, bar none. The sound is so rich, the band just plugs along like locomotive bound for glory (arriving at it several times). Thanks Archive. Give this sugaree a good hard listen, it is the high point of music since the dawn of man (and woman). Keith's piano on the second solo is the recipe for goosebumps. The monstrous build up and immediate collapse at the end of the second solo is exhausting. Wow, just listen to it and and marvel and smile.

Listen, I am the first to give five stars where they belong. This show, if you were there would get five stars no question. However, the strange sound problems in the first two songs, and the cut from Fire make this a four. It is still worth having, because the Dead are on all night, and the rest of the show makes up for the few problems. Rivals any other 77 show, save a few.

One can only be redundant in applying superlatives to '77 shows but they apply nonetheless. Despite the unfortunate cut, this Fire, in particular, is quite beautiful. I'm reminded of a couple's first bedroom interlude -beginning gently, somewhat tentatively, and building to a headboard banging conclusion. Just as 2-26 is worth the trip for the first Terrapin, this one's worth it for the first Fire.

One can only be redundant in applying superlatives to '77 shows but they apply nonetheless. Despite the unfortunate cut, this Fire, in particular, is quite beautiful. I'm reminded of a couple's first bedroom interlude -beginning gently, somewhat tentatively, and building to a headboard banging conclusion. Just as 2-26 is worth the trip for the first Terrapin, this one's worth it for the first Fire.

The scarlet-fire from Swing on this site is a filler from June. This show was the first fire and a pretty good one at that. Overall a good show and you can tell where the boys are heading for their monster east coast tour.

this is not the first Scarlet / Fire combo nor the first Fire, both of which can be found 2/26/77 at swing auditorium, an amazing show I might add. check it out, the actual first ever scarlet>fire is incredible.

This Scarlet Fire takes the cake as far as this combination, outsmoking the muchly overrated Cornell version. Even though this was the first combo both tunes had been jammed out hard since their return with Mickey.

Just a nitpicking review here...everyone is right on about how good a show this is.

But Alahambra??
People are too excited to use that title I think

That is not alahambra...it is just a complete performance of Terrapin, as on the album.
Not that that tears it down in anyway...but that's what is going on here.

First ever Scarlet>Fire. The band doesn't sound sure of "Fire" yet, if only because of the shortness of the jams. But when Jerry kicks on the wha for the end solo, it sounds like he's trying to tear the building down.
The "Alhambra" at the end of "Terrapin" is beautiful, and should have been done again.

I have had a rubbish sounding mp3 sourced copy of this show for the past few years (which had a horrible cut in drums) that I loved! This version sounds a millions times better, very crisp and clear. Great show!

This is a great show that indicates to the greatness to come over the next few tours. The First Fire on the Mountian and the only Alhambra.